The Cougars (6-3) played the entire second half without starting senior quarterback Carson Klahm, who late in first half tweaked the right shoulder he had injured as a freshman. Conor Keating, another senior, stepped in and played consistently in relief.

"It's still a win," Cougars head coach Dan Pallante said. "I give Palmetto Ridge all the credit in the world. They played their fannies off."

Barron Collier will play at South Fort Myers, the Class 6A-District 11 champion, in the first round of the playoffs on Friday, Nov. 16.

The Cougars' punishing rushing attack reeled off a total of 304 yards, and in the fourth quarter, two interceptions by Nathan Leedy and another pick by Tommy Le helped keep the Bears (1-8) from getting any comeback thrust.

There are just three teams in 6A-12. Naples beat both Barron Collier and Palmetto Ridge. BC advances as the result of topping Palmetto Ridge head-to-head.

With the district scenario now set, both teams close out their regular seasons next Friday night. The Cougars will host Gulf Coast in what is affectionately referred to as the Catfish Bowl. The Bears will hit the road to play at Bradenton-Braden River.

Klahm put the Cougars up by 14 with a pair of 2-yard plunges in the first quarter.

But after that, penalties and turnovers slowed BC's momentum.

A 93-yard scamper down the left sideline by Ron Johnson got the Bears right back into it with 1:36 left in the opening quarter.

Palmetto had a chance to tie the game in the second quarter with a first-and-goal at the BC 2. But the threat ended when Kyle Griffin's 22-yard field goal attempt was too low and short of the mark.

After giving up 157 yards rushing the first half, BC held Palmetto to just 10 yards rushing the second half.

Pallante said it was "wait and see" to determine Klahm's status for next week and for the postseason.

"Conor Keating, all the hats in the world go off to him tonight," Pallante said. "Things weren't pretty when he stepped in there. Conor's a good quarterback. We have faith in him totally. He'll do a good job. We're not worried about it."

Thanks to his thrilling TD run, Johnson ended with 104 yards on 12 carries for the Bears.

Passing success was non-existent in the game. BC's one and only attempt was picked off. The Bears completed just two of 18 attempts for 20 total yards.